Naomi Lancaster Lancaster Barry

Naomi Lancaster Barry of Nashville, Tennessee, age 95, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 4, 2016. She is survived by her husband, Dr. James C. Barry; sons, James Michael (Fredia) and David Bruce (Teresa) of Nashville; daughter, Nancy Barry Moss (Ronald) of Winfield, AL; three grandchildren, Leslie Moss McNutt (Grant), Barry Moss (Deborah), and Lydia Moss McBryde (Will); and four great-grandchildren, Canon and Tera Moss and Alexander and Lincoln McNutt. Naomi was born in Versailles, Kentucky to Robert and Omah Lancaster in l921. In 1939 she enrolled in Western Kentucky University where she received a BA degree, met her future husband and was active in First Baptist Church. After college she taught high school English and Drama in Missouri. In 1943, she married James and joined him at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. In l951, they moved to Emporia, Virginia where she played a highly successful role as the pastor’s wife at the Main Street Baptist Church. In 1954, the family moved to Nashville for James’ work at the Baptist Sunday School Board (LifeWay). During this time Naomi focused on caring for their three young children, writing articles for the magazine Living with Children and teaching children’s programs in her church. With her children in school, she took courses at George Peabody College and received her Master of Education degree. Thereafter, she taught first grade in Metro Nashville Public Schools for twenty years until her retirement. She was an active member of Belmont Heights Baptist Church, teaching Sunday School and serving as president of the Women’s Missionary Union. Naomi contributed to the family’s creative development with her language skills and artistic expressions in writing, singing, painting, sewing and music. She loved the piano and could play by ear almost anything she heard. Naomi and James built a home in West Meade and lived there for forty-four years. In 2007, they moved to The Heritage at Brentwood where she celebrated her 95th birthday and 73rd wedding anniversary. In retirement, Naomi focused on genealogical research traveling to many places throughout the US, including three trips to Salt Lake City for research in the Mormon Achieves. She traced the Lancaster lineage to the 1700’s in Virginia and the Barry’s to the 1100’s in Wales and Ireland. During these years Naomi and James travelled extensively throughout the world, with time spent in the Bahamas, Scotland and Europe. A memorial service will be held at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home on Thursday, December 8, 2016, at one o’clock in the afternoon, with visitation two hours prior. A private entombment will follow immediately in the Woodlawn Cross Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be sent to the Women’s Missionary Union or a charity of your choice.